Proceedings Paper

Stimulated Raman scattering experiments have been performed in H2 and H2-Ar mixtures with an UV-preionized discharge laser (308 nm) as the pump. The energy conversion efficiency from the pump laser beam to Stokes beams has been investigated as a function of Ar concentration and pumping energy. It has been found that in the H2-Ar mixture with 50% of Ar, the energy conversion efficiency to the first Stokes was more than 80% higher than that obtained in H2 at the same total pressure (40 atm) and pump energy (60 mJ).